The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1887-06-10
SNAKES IN ILLINOIS.
How the Reptiles Abound in Rush
Township Jo Dayiess County.
Especial Correspondencel

How the Reptiles Abound in Rush
Township, 10 Dayiess County.
Special Correspondence
JOLIET, His, May 81.
The small group of mountains i'll Rush
township, up in Jo Daviess county, this state,
almost on the Iowa boundary, are fairly
alive with snake hunters, whenever a warm
day occurs, when the venonous reptiles
crawl out of their dens in the rocks and hud-
die together by the scores and hundreds in
the sunshine, many varieties often being
found massed together. The old time snake
hunters know just where to look for the rep
tiles, which at this season of the year are dull
and sluggish. Many orders are received from
showmen all over the country for live rat
tiers, and the snake hunters generally receive
from fifty cents to So eacl. for them, accord
ing to their size and condition 1t is not such
dangerous matter to capture live rattlers as
many people suppose. The snake hunter pro-
vides himself with large canvas bag,
pole eight feet long, with all iron hook at the
further end, and wire SO bent as to form
the outline for slip moose of stout hemp
cord, the line continuing down the pole to the
operators hands. Arriving at the den Of the
snakes, the reptiles are hooked out from their
beds under the rocks where they lie basking
in the rays of the sun, then the slip moose is
adjusted over the head and neck, the cord
pulled tight, when the snake is bodily
lifted OIL the end of the pole and
thrown head first in the mouth of the sack,
which is held open by boy in attendance;
the cord is cut as near the rattIers head as
careful discretion will permit, then another
snake is hooked out, captured and bagged i'll
the same manner, often as many as thirty on
forty live rattlers being secured in one after
noon. The rattlers, once inside the sack, seem
to take it easy, as a matter OF course, and
create no commOtion nor make any effort to
escape After the snake hunter has secured
as many rattlers as he desires, or as there
happens to he within sight or fishing distance,
he ties the mouth of the sack, throws the bag
of venomous reptiles over his shoulders and
backs his burden into town with as little con-
Germ as though he were carrying SO many
dead quail. Many folks in the region of the
Rush mountains deal largely in rattlesnake
oil, which is popularity supposed to possess
wonderful curative properties. Of warm
afternoon whole troop OF villagers will
sally out into the mountains, armed with
1ilils cudges and rods, and when they come
upon u den of snakes they proceed at once to
iilelsllly whip the life out of them with their
tlirtshing fails. Few, il any, of the reptiles
ever make their escape. The rattlers are as
sorted out of the mass of dead and writhiilg
reptiles, and carried home in sacks, where
the dead carcasses are thrown into
a rendering tank, and the oil all tried
out. 1t is then carefully strained, bottled
and labeled, and is ready for the market. and
often it is sold as high as 81 an ounce, SO high
a reputation has it secured as an unfailing
remedial agent for the cure of chronic rheu-
nlatism and dozen other ills the human
family is heir to. There resides in q subter-
raIean cave in this vicinity a venerable
hermit who has for many years enjoyed a
wide local reputation in northern Illinois for
his powers OF healing snake bites. He is said
to be on the most familiar terms with all the
iattlels and other veaomous snakes in these
mountains. He is said to cure snake bites
without the aid of any kind of medicine, and
apparently he delights to fellowship with and
hold control over every kind of venomous
reptile. He always protests against their be-
ing killed, and it is said that the largest and
most yenonlous rattlers inhabit his cave,
and daily come to him to be ca
ressed and dis; aear i'm their den at his
aiding. !, henever person within the reach
Il this hermit is bitten by a rattler his heal
ing gift is invoked, and the patient is at once
relieved of all pains and the poison is rem
dered harmless. He simply places his
hands upon the wound and cautions the suf-
ferer not to take any whisky or other antidote
offered by others He never accepts pay for
his services in life saving The cid hermit
has often been urged to divnlge the secret of
his uncanny art, but he only protests that it
is not incarnation. and that he is not in
league or compact with the evil one, but fur
lher satisfaction n he viii give no one.